Week In Washington, History Of Special Elections In Wisconsin

Air Date:
Heard On Central Time

Special elections in Wisconsin don’t always get a lot of attention, but they play an important role in democracy. We learn more about the history of these elections in Wisconsin, and why some seats stay vacant longer than others. We also take a look President Trump’s call to ban bump stocks, devices that increase the rate of fire for certain guns.

Featured in this Show

  • A Look At Special Elections In Wisconsin

    Special elections may not be the flashiest events in Wisconsin politics, but they certainly play an important role in our democracy. Typically, a lawmaker will leave office before the end of their term, and the governor, in theory, calls for a special election to replace that individual. But…like everything else in politics these days, the reality can be a bit more complex. A reporter digs into the history of special elections in Wisconsin, and looks at Governor Scott Walker’s decision to not call special elections to fill two seats in the statehouse, both of which opened up late last year after the previous officeholders took jobs in the Walker administration.

  • This Week In Washington – February 21, 2018

    President Trump signed a memorandum yesterday directing the Attorney General to effectively ban the use of bump stocks, devices that allow guns to increase their rate of fire. We talk about the move, as well as a new plea in the Russia investigation, and Mitt Romney’s bid for the U.S. Senate.

Episode Credits

  • Rob Ferrett Host
  • Chris Malina Producer
  • Dean Knetter Producer
  • Scott Gordon Guest
  • Paul Singer Guest